Pair arraigned on attempted murder and other charges

Lance M. Gouvan, 34, and Megan R. Bonny, 26, whose addresses are listed as the streets of Northampton, were arraigned in Northampton District Court, this afternoon, on charges stemming from an incident alleged to have occurred yesterday at 1 p.m. outside the Cutchins Center for Children and Families  in Northampton.

Gouvan and Bonny are each charged with attempted murder, kidnapping of a child, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a rope; and two charges of assault and battery. They pleaded not guilty.

They are being held without the right to bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Tuesday, July 24 in Northampton District Court.

According to police, Gouvan and Bonny approached a 9-year-old girl jump-roping outside the Cutchins Center at 78 Pomeroy Terrace at about 1 p.m. on Thursday. Police said  Bonny instructed Gouvan to tie the victim to a tree. Gouvan dragged the victim by her hair some 20 feet and tied the jump-rope tightly around her neck and hanged her from the tree, police said. She was able to stand on her toes.

A staff member returning to the scene discovered the girl, police said, and she later identified the suspects, who police located some 90 minutes later and arrested.